So RCI has done it again

[Ridewithme38 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ridewithme38]

I did just join RCI. I mostly joined because I heard about them having the most
Inventory but I was really disappointed to see that most of it was rentals.

Searching Just exchanges i see 164,317 weeks...Searching Extra vacations i see 135,258...Searching Last call only i see 5,923...a total of 141,181 rentals

Most of the rentals are also available for exchange, but i don't know how to check how many are doubles...so about 23,136 more timeshare exchange weeks then rentals

[slip Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close slip]

I haven't deposited yet. I was looking at the available units and without an
Exchange, most of the available units were the same number of units that
I can see without a deposit. I didn't know most of those rentals were also
Available for an exchange. I may make a deposit with them after all.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Since RCI's enhancements and upgrades the last two years, you can search to see everything (?) that is available, not just that tied to a specific deposit.

Whether you can get it with just one deposit any more is another issue.

Read some of the threads from soon after enhancements, like 11/16/10, when TPUs were rolled out.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

I haven't deposited yet. I was looking at the available units and without an
Exchange, most of the available units were the same number of units that
I can see without a deposit. I didn't know most of those rentals were also
Available for an exchange. I may make a deposit with them after all.

Unfortunately RCI won't let you window shop without a deposit.
That's why you're only seeing the rentals.

RCI has lots of weeks but there is also alot of competition for those weeks, so you will need to plan accordingly to be the early worm. There are also great last minute gigs too but even they are becoming scarce.

Ive been mostly happy with RCI but I live in Florida where I have a ton of choices. Not sure how it is for the rest of the planet since I only pay attention to my little corner of the world.

Obviously one company cannot meet all of your travel needs so I'd look at RCI as one of the many options that I have for travelling. You can also join DAElive, SFX, Platinum Interchange and Trading Places International for free. They have cheaper rentals usually than RCI so buying bonus weeks from these alternate companies can be a great bargain. DAE is the cheapest at $79 to $99 a week for the free memberships.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

Unfortunately RCI won't let you window shop without a deposit.
That's why you're only seeing the rentals.

RCI has lots of weeks but there is also alot of competition for those weeks, so you will need to plan accordingly to be the early worm. There are also great last minute gigs too but even they are becoming scarce.

Ive been mostly happy with RCI but I live in Florida where I have a ton of choices. Not sure how it is for the rest of the planet since I only pay attention to my little corner of the world.

Obviously one company cannot meet all of your travel needs so I'd look at RCI as one of the many options that I have for travelling. You can also join DAElive, SFX, Platinum Interchange and Trading Places International for free. They have cheaper rentals usually than RCI so buying bonus weeks from these alternate companies can be a great bargain. DAE is the cheapest at $79 to $99 a week for the free memberships.

Other exchange companies do not rent exchange deposits to the general public. Many do rent last minute inventory to members, who are bona fide timeshare owners. That is an extremely important distinction.

The johnny-come-latelies do not have the knowledge to compare the crappy RCI as it is now with the great exchange company it used to be. One of the reasons that a lot of that great inventory that used to be there is not anymore is because RCI is renting it instead to the general public, and puts it into their rental pool immediately when deposited, never making it availible for exchange.

Was RCI once the best timeshare exchange company that has ever been? Absolutely! Is it now? Absolutely NOT!

[Ridewithme38 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ridewithme38]

Was RCI once the best timeshare exchange company that has ever been? Absolutely! Is it now? Absolutely NOT!

I'll ask you the same question i was unable to get an answer to above....Can you name one single exchange company with the sheer enormous number of weeks available for exchange as RCI? Or even one with as simple an interface as search, click, travel?

RCI WAS once much much better then it is now, that is undeniable, but even in the sad state it is now, no other Exchange company can even compare, heck, i'm willing to bet(don't know for sure) if you combined EVERY SINGLE OTHER exchange company out there, they still wouldn't have as many exchange possibilities as RCI

So, Sure its sad, RCI isn't as great as it once was, but its still the greatest option out there, hands down

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Other exchange companies do not rent exchange deposits to the general public. Many do rent last minute inventory to members, who are bona fide timeshare owners. That is an extremely important distinction.

The johnny-come-latelies do not have the knowledge to compare the crappy RCI as it is now with the great exchange company it used to be. One of the reasons that a lot of that great inventory that used to be there is not anymore is because RCI is renting it instead to the general public, and puts it into their rental pool immediately when deposited, never making it availible for exchange.

Was RCI once the best timeshare exchange company that has ever been? Absolutely! Is it now? Absolutely NOT!

Maybe so but I'm still getting great vacations with a little planning.
I can't complain about this years exchanges cause I'm going to DVC Vero, Ft. Myers beach at Beach Club I, Native Sun in Laud. by the Sea, Oasis Lakes Fountains and my biggest RCI score this year Manhattan Club for New Years Eve.

Of course these exchanges required a little planning on my part which is what I didn't used to do when I was a newbie RCI member so I was happy with the last minute exchanges, but RCI is still a nice option for TS owners. Everything changes in this world and RCI is no exception. You can either go with the flow and change along with them or stay home sulking about how there is nowhere to go anymore. For me I'm flowing. You can never go back, I don't know why you keep trying.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

The johnny-come-latelies do not have the knowledge to compare the crappy RCI as it is now with the great exchange company it used to be.

That pretty well sums it ups, and explains the disconnect.

As one who used to do thousands of searches, Sightings, Trading Power tests, etc., every year, and through no fault of those who now do such a great job with Ex Ops, there has been a deterioration of what is considered an exceptional exchange/resort. You can't report what is not there, so that today, stuff is posted that never would have been considered 10-15 years ago.

You have to have experienced great exhanges at a fair price to recognize them.

Boil a Bullfrog theory at work.

JMHO.

[Ridewithme38 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ridewithme38]

I've stated that it was better before....That doesn't mean that it's still not the best Exchange company available even after the changes....

I guess we can disagree back and forth all day, you saying "I Wish things didn't change with time" and i saying "Even with the changes it better then anything else on the market", we'll never change each others mind....

But in the end, because RCI is still so amazingly large and easy to use...The argument never was, "Is there a better alternative" Because we both accept that there isn't....Not using it because of the way it evolved overtime, as i said before is a textbook example of 'cutting off your nose to spite your face"

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Not using it because an exchange that used to cost $500-ish total now costs $2500-ish total, if it is available at all, is a good reason.

Sad statement for the industry if that is as good as it gets, which may be true.

[Ridewithme38 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ridewithme38]

Not using it because an exchange that used to cost $500-ish total now costs $2500-ish total, if it is available at all, is a good reason.

Are you still comparing 10 years ago to today? Prices do tend to go up for things overtime...Granted 17.5% a year is a little high, but i think if you calculate the Average MF increase and the inflation rate, not to mention the increased staffing and taxes...You'll find it's a pretty fair increase

Sad statement for the industry if that is as good as it gets, which may be true

RCI isn't as good as it gets, its so above and beyond anywhere else in quality, quantity and service that it's on a whole new level above anything else...even at its current worst, Its better then 'as good as it gets'

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Come back with another 5-10 years of dealing with RCI and tell us what you think then. I'll bet your opinion changes.

[Ridewithme38 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ridewithme38]

Come back with another 5-10 years of dealing with RCI and tell us what you think then. I'll bet your opinion changes.

Hopefully in 5-10 years the other Exchange companies would have caught up a little and RCI might have some competition....But who know, if RCI survives that long and STILL dominates the market the way it does now....My opinion will be that of being impressed

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Something here is reminding me of P T Barnum.

P.T. Barnum Quotes (Author of The Art of Money Getting)

[Ridewithme38 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ridewithme38]

Something here is reminding me of P T Barnum.

P.T. Barnum Quotes (Author of The Art of Money Getting)

ARGUMENTUM AD HOMINEM

Description: An argument that attempts to disprove the truth of what is asserted by attacking the speaker rather than the speaker's argument. Another way of putting it: Fallacy where you attack someone's character instead of dealing with salient issues. There are two basic types of ad hominem arguments: (1) abusive, and (2) circumstantial.

i kinda pity you, that your argument is so weak that you have to spit out insults its kinda sad...Shame, you used to be valid....Sad that your aruments obviously aren't